To Erica on deductions

[Guest guest]

Erica wrote:

 

This is the same reason that we cannot deduct the price of the CDs we

buy from Amma's bookstore from our taxes -- we GOT something for those

dollars. This is also why Public TV does not say that you are "buying"

something when they give you a gift after you donate.

 

Jai Ma

 

Broken-hearted Erica

 

 

 

Dear Erica ~ of course, you are right. I remember when (this was when I was

working in nonprofits in Washington, DC) the "rules" about donations changed.

This was because the "rules" had already been changed in terms of making it

more difficult for people to donate money due to special rules added. Then

came the change you refer to. It is very hard for most nonprofits because

foundations and corporations prefer to give to programs rather than

infrastructure

(or the costs of running the nonprofit). Then the rules changed so that if

you actually got something in return for your money, either the money was no

longer deductible, or only the amount that was above the amount of the item

purchased was deductible. And in their public language, along with donation

requests, many nonprofits adopted the following language: "deductible to the

full

extent allowed by law," which of course made it again more difficult for the

giver. You would need an accountant to make a simple contribution if you got

a mug or a bumper sticker or something back.

 

But I do remember reading a post recently where the person said that all the

people in the "front" and in the "back" of Amma's organization, in terms of

the M.A. Center and the website, were volunteers. This still probably doesn't

make the money paid for a CD deductible, but I'm sure that money donated for

a program, such as Katrina relief, would be deductible, uncless the M.A.

Center handled donations differently from other nonprofits.

 

Fortunatey, for me, I guess, even with all this confusion and these "rules,"

people still cared enough to give. Even so, raising money was an integral

part of my job. And this was where I became ill, because I was a one person

national program. Fortunately, this is not so with Amma. She has many helpers

and many contributors, whether it is their time or their money they are

contributing. Yet even knowing what I know about nonprofits, even if there was

no

deduction, I would give anyway. (Of course, I think it only fair to say that

all of this is somewhat of a moot point because my only income is social

security disability, and hence I am not taxed anyhow.)

 

Jai Ma,

Linda

 

P.S. I am really sorry brothers and sisters because it seems as if my

responses are in a waxing phase. Perhaps soon they will be in a waning phase.

: )